PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jarrett Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohamed Al Ajmi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Steele
vs
Al Ajmi

199 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

172 cm
22
172 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarrett Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mohamed Al Ajmi!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Al Ajmi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Steele's guard.

Steele has his feet on Al Ajmi's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Al Ajmi looks to throw a body kick

and Steele counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Steele working over Al Ajmi with some ground and pound. Al Ajmi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Steele will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Steele is working for a kimura but Al Ajmi is defending it quite comfortably.

Steele is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Al Ajmi defends it well.
Steele lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Al Ajmi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Steele is working away from the top position though.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Steele in particular looking to stall.
Steele prevents Al Ajmi from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Steele seems content to control.
Al Ajmi is looking for a sweep. Steele is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Steele looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Steele decides to stand up.

Al Ajmi closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Steele quickly recovers to half guard.

Steele manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Steele gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Al Ajmi to score an easy takedown into full guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Steele manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Al Ajmi jumps guard.
Steele's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Steele missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Al Ajmi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Steele stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Al Ajmi throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Steele was covering up waiting for the punch and Al Ajmi finishes the takedown easily into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Steele manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Al Ajmi looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steele gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Steele takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Ajmi wants to improve his position but Steele is controlling well.
Steele lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Steele has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Al Ajmi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Steele scores with a couple of nice shots.

Steele decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Al Ajmi takes a swing at Steele's ribcage but misses.

Steele gets a takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele is thwarting Al Ajmi's attempts to control the position.
Steele missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Al Ajmi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Steele is working away from the top position though.

Al Ajmi looking for submissions off his back.

Steele decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Al Ajmi throws a combination that misses

and Steele decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Al Ajmi's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steele with a flurry of punches that miss.
Steele scoring with punches to the head and body.

Al Ajmi is working an open guard so Steele takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarrett Steele dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Al Ajmi enables Steele to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Al Ajmi manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Steele showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Steele decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Steele gets caught flat footed, as Al Ajmi shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Steele scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Al Ajmi dives in and scores a takedown into Steele's guard.

Steele has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Al Ajmi has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Al Ajmi is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Al Ajmi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Steele lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Al Ajmi decides to pull guard.
Steele landing with the ground and pound.

Al Ajmi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Steele missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Steele really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Steele controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele chips away with some ground and pound.
Steele landing with the ground and pound.
Steele throws a big right hand that misses.
Steele keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Al Ajmi's head.
Steele scoring with punches to the head and body.
Steele throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Al Ajmi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Steele stands up and waves to Al Ajmi to follow him.

Steele shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Al Ajmi is trying to defend but Steele finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Steele throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steele thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Steele seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Steele decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Al Ajmi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Steele pushes Al Ajmi off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Al Ajmi throws a series of punches but Steele avoids them all with ease.

Steele gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Al Ajmi to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Steele pushes Al Ajmi off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mohamed Al Ajmi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Steele fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Al Ajmi to the ground. Steele is now in Al Ajmi's guard.
Steele is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Steele throwing strikes but missing.

Steele gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Steele drives through with a takedown into Al Ajmi's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarrett Steele dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Steele fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Al Ajmi sprawls well initially but Steele persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Steele decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Steele fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Al Ajmi avoids it really well and circles away.
A right-left combo lands from Al Ajmi.

It looks like Jarrett Steele has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Steele decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Ajmi trying to control here.

Steele is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Al Ajmi has managed to free his arm - good work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Steele is looking for a kimura here.

Steele is trying to work for a kimura but Al Ajmi is defending well.
Al Ajmi is trying to control but can't.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Steele scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Steele throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Steele is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Al Ajmi sees it coming and defends easily.
Steele prevents Al Ajmi from improving his position.
Steele takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Steele is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Al Ajmi can do to turn this around?
Al Ajmi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Steele sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Al Ajmi defending well though.

Steele decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Al Ajmi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Steele did well to prevent Al Ajmi getting side control.

Steele makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steele feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Steele slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Steele distracts Al Ajmi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Steele cracks Al Ajmi with a solid left hand.
Steele landing with the ground and pound.
Mohamed Al Ajmi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Al Ajmi working a defensive guard here.

Steele decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Al Ajmi, up you get!
A low kick from Al Ajmi misses

and Steele counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Steele stands up and waves to Al Ajmi to follow him.
Al Ajmi misses with a leg kick

and Steele counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steele keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Steele escapes and gets back to his feet.

Steele shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Steele showed some decent athleticism there.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Steele connects with a nice short shot to Al Ajmi's temple.
Steele takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Steele wants to work for an arm triangle but Al Ajmi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Steele content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Al Ajmi actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jarrett Steele showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Steele, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jarrett Steele!